The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas has lambasted top government agencies for severe hold-ups and poor coordination on major infrastructure projects, demanding immediate accountability and taking strong exception to the absence of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) chairman at a crucial review meeting.

The session, chaired by Senator Agha Shazaib Durrani at Parliament House on Tuesday, expressed deep frustration over the languishing state of numerous development schemes. Chairman Durrani singled out the NTDC chief’s non-appearance as a reflection of a ‘lack of seriousness towards the pressing issues of less developed areas,’ and issued a stern directive for the official to attend the next meeting ‘without fail.’

While examining the compliance report from the Ministry of Communications and the National Highway Authority (NHA), the committee was informed that work on the 7.3 km North Access Road (NAR) had resumed. After a stay order stalled the project, a new contractor was engaged on August 5, 2025, with officials reporting 85% physical completion and a new deadline set for the end of October.

Discussions on development in Chitral revealed that land acquisition continues to be a major impediment for the Ayun, Bamboret, and Reshun road projects, despite the contracts having been awarded. In a move to resolve the disputes, Senator Falak Naz offered her assistance and was subsequently directed by the chair to be included in future consultations with provincial authorities.

The committee also scrutinized proposals for providing direct motorway access to Peshawar Airport. When Chairman Durrani questioned why a flyover from the M-1 could not be constructed, NHA officials cited high costs. Instead, they detailed a plan for an extra lane and a dedicated loop at the M-1/M-2 interchange, which was submitted in a PC-I in March 2025. The chairman ordered that this plan be prioritized.

Frustration peaked during the review of the N-55 project, where the committee decried the slow pace and feeble accountability. A fact-finding inquiry report was submitted in April 2025, but Chairman Durrani noted with dismay that ‘not a single official has been suspended.’ He demanded the complete service and posting records of all officers named in the inquiry.

Although NHA officials claimed 75% completion of the N-55 with a target of December 31, 2025, the chairman cautioned them against presenting ‘unverified figures before Senate forums.’

Further highlighting the authority’s shortcomings, the committee took exception to a 240-day delay in submitting the As-Built Survey report for the 66.37 km additional carriageway between Petaro and Sehwan, a project that is reportedly 92% complete. Durrani ordered another site visit within 15 days to verify compliance.

In light of climate change and recurrent flooding, committee members also urged the NHA to adopt resilient materials and modern engineering designs, particularly for road construction in vulnerable regions.

Concluding the meeting, Chairman Durrani issued a stark warning against financial mismanagement. ‘Every year, development schemes worth Rs. 120 billion are proposed. This is unsustainable,’ he stated, insisting that no new projects should be initiated until all ongoing ones are finished.